Spinning top



Dec. 6, 193s. N. NNG 2,139,507

SPINNING TOP A Filed Sept. 4, 1937 INVENTOR Wai/ban. c2023 BY MM' l ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 uNiTEDfL PATENT Glflficr.

SPINNING TOP Nathan Laing, New York, N. Y. Application September 4, 1937', Serial No. 162,443"

This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in a spinning top.

More specifically, the invention is characterized by a top body which is, free to spin in the air and having a bottom peg upon which it may spin and a, stemv axially mounted on the top of; the body provided with` a c ord windable upon the body which maybe usedto spi-nl the top.

Still further the invention is characterized by 1o the provisionn ofl several buttons mounted on the end of the stem which are adapted to rattle and make noises while the top is in motion.

As a further object of this invention it is proposed to construct the top body substantially i5 frusto-conical in shape with the apex at the bottom thereof, and concave grooved sides on which the cord may be wound for providing the momentum to spin the top.

Still further a means is proposed for eccentrically holding the buttons in various adjusted positions on the end of the stem for controlling the amount of noise they will make when the top is spinning.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and'durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention. and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a spinning topconstructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4 showing details 45 of the construction of the buttons per se.

The spinning top, according to this invention,

consists of a top body I0 having a bottom peg I I upon which it may spin when suitably thrown with a cord I2 which is adapted to be wound 5o on the body IIJ. A stem I3 is axially mounted on the top of the body IU, and a pin I4 is mounted on the end of the stem I3 and several buttons I5 adapted to rattle are mounted on the pin I4.

The top body I0 consists of a piece of ma- 55 terial substantially truste-conical in Shape with its` apex loa at the bottom thereof. It is provided. with a4 flat top Il]b and concave sides IBC. The concave side IUC is provided with a spiral groove I6 uponV which the cord I2 is adapted to be Wound. The peg II is constructed of heavy 5 Wood or metal and is adapted to be set into the apex end I IJa of the body IU, and the top is adapted to spin on a point IIa of the bottom peg II.

The stem I3 consists of a wooden peg set into 10 the top faceof the top bodylll, and the pin I4 extends into a hollow formed in the top end thereof. This pin I4 consists of a body portion |49' upon which the buttons I5 are mounted. Near the top the pin I4 is provided with a bulged l5 portion I4b which continues into a narrow portion I4c, which in turn continues into the head portion I4d. The string I2 is adapted to have one of its ends I2EL tied around thernarrow portion I4c of the pin I4 between the bulged portion 20 I4b and the head I4d so that the pin I4 may rotate together with the top body I0 while the entire device is being held in a vertical position by the string I2. The outer end I2b of the string I2 is provided with a button I1 which may be 25 gripped for the purpose of holding same when spinning the top.

A means is provided for axially urging the pin I4 inwards for clamping the buttons together at certain predetermined pressures best suited 30 to rattle the buttons. This means includes a hollow I3a formed in the outer end of the stem Y I3. A cover element I8 is secured across the top of the recess I3'i and is provided with an opening I9 through which the pin I4 extends. The 35 interior end of the pin I4 is provided with a head 20 and a spring 2| is coaxially mounted on the inner portion of the stem I4a and acts between the cover element I8 and the head 20 to urge the pin I4 into a position in which the but- 40 tons will assume a position best suited for rattling. The covered element I8 prevents the head 20 and the spring 2I from the recess- I3a.

The buttons I5 are constructed of bone or other noise making material and a means is provided for eccentrically pivotally holding them in position on the body portion of the pin I4. This means comprises a radial slot 22 formed in the body of each button I5, and a wavy spring 23 is mounted within the slot and is 50 adapted to engage the sides of the pin I4 in order to xedly and pivotally hold the pin in position within the waves. Thus, the position of the buttons I5 with relation to the stem I4 may be controlled by pulling thebuttons to various positions on the pin I 4 as permitted by the wavy spring 22.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The string I2 is brought down along the side of the top body IIJ until it reaches somewhat below the apex Illa. It is then wound on the concave sides of the body I and engages the groove I6 in order to hold it in position thereon. The button I'I is then gripped and the top is thrown into the air, so that the top spins in the air. The top may also be lowered by holding the button I1 of string I2, so that the point IIa of the bottom peg II will engage upon a at surface to permit the top to spin in an upright position. The string I2, still gripped, is held so that it will assist in maintaining the top in a substantially vertical position. When this string is not wound on the top body IIJ, it assumes a position indicated by the dot and dash lines I2 in Fig. 1. While the top is spinning the wobbling of the top will cause the buttons I5 to hit against each other, making various sounds. When the top has lost its momentum, and it is desired to respin the top, the cord I2 is again wound on the top body I0 and the above procedure is repeated.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed'and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A spinning top, comprising a top body having a bottom peg upon which it may spin When suitably thrown with a cord wound on said body, a stem axially mounted on the top of said body, a pin mounted on said stem, and several buttons, adapted to rattle, mounted on said pin, said buttons being constructed of bone or other noise making material and being provided with a means for eccentrically holding said buttons in position upon said pin.

2. A spinning top, comprising a top body having a bottom peg upon which it may spin when suitably thrown with a cord wound on said body, a stem axially mounted on the top of said body, a pin mounted on` said stem, and several buttons, adapted to rattle, mounted on said pin, said buttons being constructed of bone or other noise making material and being provided with a means for eccentrically holding said buttons in position upon said pin, said means comprising a wavy slot formed in the body of said buttons and through which said pin extends, and a spring extending the distance of said slot and conforming with said slot and being adapted to engage the side of said pin for holding the buttons in various adjusted positions upon said pin.

NATHAN LAING. 

